Abstract: In a wireless communication system, Distributed Units (DUs) wirelessly receive test data from wireless access points and transfer the test data to a Central Unit (CU). The CU receives the test data from the DUs and estimates data throughputs for combinations of the DUs and the wireless access points based on the test data. The CU selects some of the combinations of the DUs and the wireless access points based on the estimated data throughputs. The CU exchanges user data with the user communication devices and exchanges the user data with the DUs in the selected combinations of the DUs and the wireless access points. The DUs in the selected combinations of the DUs and the wireless access points exchange the user data with the CU and wirelessly exchange the user data with the wireless access points in the selected combinations of the DUs and the wireless access points.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a portable and compact card holding and playing system comprising a card caddy with a detachable rotating mechanism, a flexible retaining device with at least one weighted element, a plurality of retaining discs, and a game plate using a number of flexible retaining mechanisms. The game plate is single and/or trifold with the trifold plate comprising a ferrous core with top and bottom laminate materials connected via hinges. The retaining disc is stackable, which can be placed on a number of cards or on each other. The card tray is preferably detachable from a rotatable base with a center divider that includes a magnetic component used to securely attach the card tray to the magnets embedded in the flexible retaining device and the base, thus allowing the kit to operate via magnetic and gravitational forces and be used in the presence of wind, turbulence or on uneven playing surfaces.

Abstract: A process of preparing a lithium metal phosphate includes contacting a water-soluble metal precursor, a water-insoluble metal precursor, and a phosphate precursor in an acidic aqueous medium; to form a reaction mixture; precipitating from the reaction mixture a metal phosphate; collecting the metal phosphate; combining the metal phosphate with a lithium precursor; and calcining the combined metal phosphate and lithium precursor at elevated temperature to form a lithium metal phosphate; wherein a mol ratio of water-soluble metal precursor to water-insoluble metal precursor is from 0.5:99.5 to 99.5:0.5.

Abstract: A system and method for ascertaining the concentration of a preselected target substance, characterized by a mitigated tendency for yielding results distorted by a departure from a state of calibration, i.e., by “drift”, which drift is ordinarily caused by temperature and humidity variations; drift-mitigation is achieved by exposure of a target substance to a metal oxide semiconductor material, the temperature of a heating element operatively associated with said material being cycled between a low-temperature interval and a high-temperature interval, in which latter interval the material's temperature is raised to a level at or above the minimum temperature for rapid formation of one or more oxides of the target substance, the oxide formation taking place in a sufficiently short time that the conductivity is reflective of a transient signal amplitude in a brief interval of time, such that the external factors causing drift do not have sufficient opportunity to distort the concentration determination.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part with a first display and a second housing part with a second display. The first and second housing parts are coupled by a hinge assembly that includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism configured to bias with a biasing torque the first housing part and second housing part to rotate away from each other when the first and second displays are in a closed face-to-face orientation. An electro-magnetic closure system is configured to retain the first and second displays in the closed face-to-face orientation against the biasing torque of the spring-loaded opening mechanism, and release of the electro-magnetic closure system permits the first housing part to rotationally separate from the second housing part to a predetermined angular orientation due to the biasing force of the spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: Method are provided that exhibit increased quality and compression factor for compressing images. The methods can include generating a set of coefficients indicative of image contents of a block of image pixels at a plurality of spatial frequencies. The set of coefficients is scaled to generate a first set of scaled coefficients. An assessment is performed for a plurality of quantization levels, which includes quantizing a subset of the first set of scaled coefficients according to respective quantization levels to generate a quantized subset of the first set of scaled coefficients and determining a post-quantization energy of the quantized subset of the first set of scaled coefficients. Based on the assessment of the plurality of quantization levels, a scaled and quantized version of the set of coefficients is generated. An encoded version of the image based on the scaled and quantized version of the set of coefficients is generated.

Abstract: A telecommunications enclosure system includes a terminal assembly including an optical terminal that mounts to a terminal mounting bracket via a mechanical coupling interface. The mechanical coupling interface includes a release actuator that allows the optical terminal to be released from the terminal mounting bracket by accessing the release actuator from a first side of the terminal assembly, and also allows the optical terminal to be released from the terminal mounting bracket by accessing the release actuator from an opposite second side of the terminal assembly.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a tapered shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is distal from the second end, where a diameter of the first end is smaller than a diameter of the second end; a fixed footwear holder secured to the first end of the tapered shaft; a fixed charm mount secured to the second end of the tapered shaft; a floating washer disposed about the tapered shaft, where an aperture of the floating washer has an inner diameter that is greater than the diameter of the first end and less than the diameter of the second end; and where the fixed charm mount is configured to securely fasten a charm; and where a length of the tapered shaft is greater than a maximum distance between the floating washer and the fixed footwear holder.

Abstract: A system, such as for a fuel cell electric vehicle, includes a fuel cell stack (FCS) and a controller. The FCS is configured to provide, such as for vehicle propulsion, a stack power commensurate with a stack power request. The stack power is a product of a stack current of the FCS and a stack voltage of the FCS. The controller is configured to, upon the stack voltage meeting a predetermined threshold, control the FCS to increase the stack current to cause the FCS to provide an increased stack power commensurate with an increased stack power request.

Abstract: A second device (e.g., a session border controller (SBC) receives, from a first device (e.g., a video teleconference server) of an IP communication network, an invitation (e.g., a session initiation protocol (SIP) message) to create a session between the first device and a third device (e.g., a computer of a person participating in the teleconference) of the network. The invitation includes a session description, e.g., in session description protocol (SDP) format. The second device determines whether to forward the invitation toward the third device based on a datastore comprising i) prior invitations received by the second device to create sessions between devices of the network, and ii) results of the prior invitations. Upon determining to forward the invitation, the second device forwards the invitation.

Abstract: A method and a server system for creating consistent snapshots in a distributed storage system are disclosed. The server system stores entities in databases that includes a production portion for storing current versions of entities and a backup portion for storing backup versions of modified entities, receives a request for a snapshot of a portion of the databases at a predefined snapshot time. In response to the request, the server system generates a snapshot of the databases, the snapshot including: a backup version of an entity retrieved from the backup portion and a current version of another entity retrieved from the databases and produces a response to the request based on the snapshot. When there are several backup portions, a backup portion may be used separately or in conjunction with other backup portions to provide required backup versions to generate a snapshot.

Abstract: A reel transport, stand and payoff device is provided, which operates to maneuver and jack up a reel for payoff. The reel device may include two reel mechanisms coupled together with a hydraulic system housing. Each reel mechanism includes a wheel housing and a wheel coupled to a central portion of the wheel housing. Each reel mechanism includes an arm coupled on an end to a central portion of the wheel housing. An actuator is coupled between the wheel housing and the arm to raise or lower the arm. The reel device may include at least one caster to help support and stabilize the reel device. An axle is inserted through a reel and coupled on each end to an arm by a bracket. A method of use of a reel transport, stand and payoff device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Rotating Detonation Combustors (RDCs)—or Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs)—are special propulsion devices that generate thrust by burning a fuel-oxidizer mixture via a rotating detonation wave, rather than a traditional flame. RDCs may exhibit unwanted secondary acoustic disturbances that negatively affect their detonative operation. Suppressing such unwanted/secondary acoustic modes associated with the main detonation wave may be achieved by an acoustically absorptive lining mountable in the internal walls of a RDC.

Abstract: A garment worn about an individual's torso that holds one or more firearms, typically in a concealed fashion. The invention may include a vest or other sleeveless outerwear that has various pockets on the exterior and one or more holsters on the interior. The invention may allow the locations and orientations of the holsters to be customized by the wearer through a hook and loop fastening system. Each holster may also include adjustable straps and quick release clasps.

Abstract: A shower unit having an integrated locking system for ease of installation and preferably including a channel, baffling system, the retention cavity system that in combination to collect and direct fluid away from support walls and to a collection area.

Abstract: A calcaneal fracture fixation and reduction apparatus and method.

Abstract: A method including a user who has brand affinities about a product brand or a product brand category. The method can include analyzing whether the user has brand affinities for the product brand or the brand category with two binary classification models that can include (a) a model one to determine an affinity to a particular product brand and (b) a model two to determine an affinity to a particular product brand category. The method also can include analyzing whether the user has affinities for a similar product brand or a similar product brand category by a model three neural network. The method can include displaying recommendations and the promotions for a product brand, a product brand category, a similar product brand, or a similar product brand category to the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus for privacy protection includes a peripheral interface connectable to a second device. In some embodiments, the second device is operably connectable to a personal communication device and the peripheral interface provides characteristics of communication signals associated with the personal communication device to the second device. The apparatus also includes a radio frequency (RF) detection device operable to detect energy carrying a communication signal to or from the personal communication device.

Abstract: Embodiments presented provide for a method of making as well as an apparatus for holding a hydraulic fracturing plug in a desired position within a wellbore. The hydraulic fracturing plug is configured with a slip and wedge system to maintain the desired position within the wellbore.

Abstract: An electrode system includes an electrode, a connector, and a cable with an in-line radio-frequency filter module comprising resistors and inductors without any deliberately added capacitance. The resistors are arranged in an alternating series of resistors and inductors, preferably with resistors at both outer ends, and connected electrically in series. The in-line module is located at a specific location along the wire, chosen through computer modeling and real-world testing for minimum transfer of received RF energy to a patient's skin, such as between 100 cm and 150 cm from the electrode end of a 240 centimeter cable. The total resistance of the resistors plus cable, connectors and solder is 1000 ohms or less; while the total inductance is roughly 1560 nanohenries. The inductors do not include ferrite or other magnetic material and are, together with the resistors, stock components thereby simplifying manufacture and reducing cost.